Betül Mardin

Betûl Mardin (born 1926 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a famous Turkish public relations specialist. She is called the "grand dame of public relations".

Betûl Mardin was born into a renowned family that brought up statesmen, diplomats and leaders in the civic, military and business sectors of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey. Her father was partner in a petroleum gas station chain. Her brother, Arif Mardin (Istanbul, March 15, 1932 – New York, June 25, 2006) was a world-renowned Turkish-American music producer.

After being graduated from the American College for Girls in Istanbul, she began her career in 1955 as a magazine journalist in a newspaper. In 1958, she became assistant producer in Dormen Theater and from 1964 on continued as a program specialist and a producer at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT). In 1967, Betûl Mardin was sent to London, UK to attend a course on television held by the BBC. Returned to Turkey, she was appointed to establish the theater section at the TRT in Ankara.

From 1968 on, Betûl Mardin dedicated herself to public relations. Between 1976 and 1982, she served as the president of the Turkish Public Relations Association. She was elected president of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) in 1995. In 1996, Betûl Mardin became the founding president of the Turkish Public Relations Specialists Association. For her contribution to the progress of public relations profession, she was awarded "Lifetime Honorary Member" of the IPRA in 1998. The same year, Betûl Mardin became a member of the European Public Relations Confederation (CERP). She is member of several public relations institutions in Turkey and internationally.

She co-founded in 1987 I.M.A.G.E., a publicity and public relations company representing Weber Shandwick Worldwide Inc. in Turkey and became its CEO. On the company’s long customer list are renowned multi-national and global enterprises, non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies. She is honorary chairperson of the company today.

Betûl Mardin pays great attention to the professional further education of talented beginners. She lectures also in journalism and public relations at Bosphorus University and Istanbul University. Since 1997, she is the program coordinator at the School of Public Relations of Istanbul Bilgi University.

In 1998, Betûl Mardin was awarded an honorary doctorate from Anadolu University. She was honored by various institutions for her contributions to the public relations, including the "Golden World Award" from IPRA and "2005 Lifetime Success in Public Relations Atlas Award," from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). In 2005, International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) nominated her for induction into its Hall of Fame

She has a son from the renowned Turkish theater actor Haldun Dormen.

Betul Mardin is also mother-in-law to the writer Ayse Arman.She currently has one granddaughter.

External links

* [http://www.bilgi.edu.tr/pages/faculties.asp?keepO=4&stuffid=421&fid=1&did=3&r=8%2F7%2F2005+11%3A04%3A31+PM Betûl Mardin's biography in Turkish]
* [http://www.ipra.org/ International Public Relations Association]
* [http://www.iccopr.com/ International Communications Consultancy Organisation]
* [http://www.cerp.org/ European Public Relations Confederation]